Tackling Ag Workforce Issues & Feeding the Globe

A robust agriculture industry starts with a strong and healthy workforce. However, due to a labor shortage, American farmers are increasingly turning to overseas workers to fill positions on the farm. This is not an easy process because our visa policies and regulations have become convoluted and burdensome, nor is it ideal because America is stronger when our domestic workforce is fully engaged. Reforms are desperately needed to address this pressing issue.

This week, I was selected by the House Agriculture Committee to lead the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, which will focus on the workforce issues facing our nation's agricultural producers. The working group will:

Seek input from stakeholders, employers, and workers, particularly emphasizing the H-2A visa program for nonimmigrant, temporary agricultural workers;
Produce an interim report detailing the program’s shortcomings and the impacts on food security, and;
File a final report with recommendations to address the flaws within the program.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common sense solutions that help our farmers and producers better staff the farm to help feed and clothe the world.

Also this week, I joined three of my colleagues in introducing the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023, a bipartisan effort to restore the Food for Peace program’s original mission to use commodities grown in America to fight hunger around the globe. In recent years, program funds increasingly have been used to purchase goods from America’s competitors. American food aid should be produced in America. No one knows the business of feeding the world better than our farmers. I am pleased to join my colleagues, Reps. Mann, Garamendi, and Panetta, in prioritizing American farmers through this legislation, by utilizing their abundant production to fight global hunger.

H.Res. 521 – Censuring Adam Schiff, Representative of the 30th Congressional District of California – YEA

Holds Representative Adam Schiff accountable for his outrageous conduct promoting the Russian Collusion Hoax, which was designed to deceive the American people about President Trump.

H.R. 3799 – CHOICE Arrangement Act – YEA

Helps small businesses offer more affordable health insurance plans to their employees and allow employees to choose their health insurance plan.

H.R. 3564 – Middle Class Borrower Protection Act – YEA

Cancels recent changes made by the Federal Housing Finance Agency to the up-front loan level pricing adjustments charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for guarantee of single-family mortgages. The changes had the effect of penalizing middle class families who work hard to maintain good credit scores.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Aerospace, security interests highlight recent European trip for Boozman, Crawford

"It's an opportunity for countries and companies to look at new stuff and place buys and learn about new technology," Crawford explained about the air show to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Crawford attended the event as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation affiliated with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The congressman is a senior committee member who presides over the body's highways and transit subcommittee.

Agri-Pulse

House Ag announces bipartisan working group to find H-2A reforms

The working group, whose members largely represent districts where workforce challenges are particularly acute, is charged with first writing an interim report that will detail the shortcomings of the H-2A visa program, and then producing a final report with recommendations.

Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., and Don Davis, D-N.C., will co-chair the group.

The Trucker

US legislators weighing numerous bills that will impact trucking industry

H.R. 3318, sponsored by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) establishes a 10% axle weight variance for dry bulk products, provided there is no increase in the overall federal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limit. Crawford’s bill addresses the fact that dry bulk cargo — including grains, aggregates, plastic pellets, etc. — tend to shift during transportation. The result is a redistribution in the truck’s weight. The bill provides leeway for trucks hauling such materials, avoiding the need to reduce load weight to account for the shifting.

U.S. Wheat Associates

USW, NAWG Applaud Introduction Of American Farmers Feed The World Act Of 2023

U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (KS), John Garamendi (CA), Rick Crawford (AR), and Jimmy Panetta (CA) introduced the legislation, which aims to restore the original intent of the Food for Peace program without spending additional Farm Bill resources, all while safeguarding the interests of U.S. farmers.